The Eight Realizations Sutra

The Eight Realizations Sutra

Day and night, at all times,
Buddha’s disciples should
Mindfully recite and contemplate
The eight realizations of Great Beings.

The First Realization:
All the world is impermanent.
The earth is fragile and perilous.
The four great elements in here, suffering and emptiness.
In the five skandhas there is no self.
All that arise, change, and perish,
Are illusive, unreal, and without a master.
Mind is the root of evil;
Body a reservoir of sin.
Thus observing and contemplating,
One gradually breaks free from birth and death.

The Second Realization:Excessive desire is suffering.Birth, death, and weariness in lifeAll originate from greed and desires.Desiring less, being wu-wei,Bodymind are at ease and free.The Third Realization:The mind is insatiable,Always seeking, thirsty for more,Thus increasing our cravings.Bodhisattvas, and all others should renounce such conduct.Always remember to follow the way,Be content and at peace with poverty,With wisdom as the sole vocation.

The Fourth Realization:Indolence leads to degradation.Always practice with diligence,Vanquish all vexations,Subdue the four maras,And escape the prison of the skandhas.

The Fifth Realization:Ignorance leads to birth and death.Bodhisattvas, and all others should always be mindfulTo study and learn extensively,To increase their wisdomAnd perfect their eloquence,So they can teach and enlighten all beings,And impart great joy to all.

The Seventh Realization:The five desires are perilous. Even as laity, be not sullied by worldly pleasures;Think frequently of the three robes, The tiled bowl, and instruments of Dharma;Aspire to the noble lifeAnd cultivate the Way with purity;Let your actions be noble and sublime,Showering compassion on all.

The Eighth Realization:
Birth and death are like a blazing fire
Plagued with endless afflictions and suffering.
Vow to cultivate the serene mind,
To bring relief to all;
To take on infinite sufferings for sentient beings,
And lead all to supreme joy.

Translated from Chinese by the Chung Tai Translation Committee with pragmatic cultural changes made by Ven. Wayne Hughes (Ren Cheng)

It is important when reading and studying the sutras that we do not always take the language and ideas literally. Pragmatically, in contemporary culture the language of Buddhism in the West continues to change from its 19th century roots. In Engaged Dharma we try approach the sutras with what Richard Rorty would term pre-linguistic (before attaching words) awareness. Siddhartha himself must have had a pre-linguistic awareness of the Four Ennobling Truths before it was necessary to put it into words. While the words are important, it is the INTENT that is critical.

Each of the eight realizations are meant to be subjects of meditation and moment-to-moment practice. Within each one there are levels of practice that lead to gradual realization of the paths to positive personal development. The sutra is lyrical, its simple words meant to be chanted and memorized. And, each of these subjects can be further divided to reveal the depth of ideals contained in Buddhist philosophy. The concepts of causality (dependent origination), not-self, karma, attachment, potential (emptiness), selflessness, impermanence, mindfulness and more.

First Realization:

The First Realization clarifies the four basic subjects of Buddhist meditation: impermanence, suffering, not-self, and dispositions. Our meditation practice should develop deeper levels of mindfulness of these realities.

1. All things are impermanent. Moment-to-moment everything goes through changes dependent on their experiences and intent. Impermanence is a direct result of the core Buddhist concept of casuality or dependent origination. The Universe is a causal process where everything changes dependent on its experiences. We must always be aware and mindful that our actions have consequences.

2. Awareness of psychophysical suffering or unsatisfactoriness. Being aware of suffering leads us to our responsibility to work toward its alleviation in ourselves and the surrounding Universe.

Physical pain is a small part of the suffering that the Four Ennobling Truths reveal. More important is the psychophysical suffering; the suffering/unsatisfactoriness that comes from unnatural attachments and desires. The suffering that comes from not realizing the transitory/impermanent nature of phenomena, even pain.

3. There is no permanent self, there is the not-self that is subject to impermanence and the causal process of the Universe. This empowers us by making us mindful that our actions and thoughts can be changed for the better.

4. Dispositions are not us. Whether positive, negative or neutral they are transitory phenomena and can, and will change.Anger can be changed to calm. Anxiety can be changed to action. Grasping can be changed to generosity. And, in this causal Universe good dispositions like contentment can be changed to depression. Buddhist practice, beginning with meditation can help one develop their positive dispositions and weaken the negative ones. Dispositions are as affected by impermanence as any other thing.

The second and third stanzas of the Sutra of Eight Realizations (of Great Beings) direct us to meditative practice designed to expose our excessive, or unnatural desires and cravings that stem from greediness. Through rigorous self-honesty and committed practice we can stay on the Middle Path avoiding the suffering to the bodymind that comes from craving.

Second Realization

Craving is the focus of the Four Ennobling Truths:

Inherent in this life is suffering, unsatisfactoriness, discontentment and anguish, The cause of suffering, unsatisfactoriness, discontentment and anguish is craving, The cessation of craving is attainable due to the causal nature of the Universe; it leads to the resolution of unsatisfactoriness, discontentment and anguish, The path to the cessation of craving is Eightfold.The Buddha teaches that there is craving, craving leads to suffering, there is a way to alleviate it, the Eightfold Path is the way. But . . . what is craving and how is it different from desire?

We’ll start with a contemporary definition of craving from the Oxford Desk Dictionary: strong desire or longing. Then craving is a fixation, an unhealthy need for something (think addiction).

Craving is an activity that can lead us into unwholesome states of being like anger, depression, fear and anxiety. It is the result of not recognizing that cravings are also subject to the reality of impermanence. What we crave can become impossible to find (whether it is love, drugs or a host of other things). More importantly is that with the unique freedom that human beings have we can choose to let go of craving, make the changes physical and mental (bodymind) that release us from those unnatural attachments.

Desire according to the same source is: longing or craving. Craving and desire are enxorably linked. Desire itself, when creatively re-described as desirable leads to a positive disposition when used for goal-setting while recognizing causality and impermanence. Desirable is having such quality as to be worth seeking, worth waiting to do.Would Siddhartha Guatama have worked so hard and long to find the answer to human suffering if he hadn’t seen a desirable outcome? Desirability, when put to positive use is the aspiration to make things better. Desirability becomes the initiative necessary to make good things happen. There is nothing wrong with desire leading us to make and keep goals that lead to our own positive personal development, then on to a more encompassing human flourishing.

Desiring an outcome begins with the individual but what is desirable is when it leads to a socially encompassing result. Desirability is desire + positive intent = encompassing action.

We are human beings with imaginations and the ability to plan future actions and this leads to WANTING. To want is not negative, just as to desire is not negative. Letting it reach the point of craving is when the negative begins, suffering begins.In the Second Realization “birth, death” are not literal. Our desire when channeled positively can lead to the “birth” of new directions in life and new ideas that contribute positively to the alleviation of suffering; through mindfulness we learn to recognize when desire becomes craving that can lead to negative consequences. “Death” of negative dispositions and situations can happen only when we recognize craving and positively redirect it.

“Wu-wei” is taken from the Dao de Jing and brings a particular nuance to this stanza about desire. In early translations wu-wei was inaction, one relies on the cyclic nature of reality for results. More contemporary scholars like Roger Ames translate wu-wei as, “noncoercive actions in deference to the particular focus of things”. By practicing to desire less we can avoid the suffering that is brought on by craving. Further, we shape our desires, be they aspirations, goals or wants with the knowledge that impermanence WILL play its role. This is where acting wu-wei becomes important. We don’t cause further suffering by trying to take coercive actions to change the outcome as long as that outcome has positive potential.

Third Realization:

In our practice we meditate to learn to recognize our possible cravings and to realize our ability to change them. We practice to also recognize the positive desires we have and our ability to realize those desireable goals while keeping the reality of impermanence and causality in mind.

Learning and applying the Dharma to our everyday lives is a positive thing. Becoming so attached to one aspect of it, not realizing that it to, the Dharma is subject to impermamence can lead to suffering of ourselves and others.Here again don’t take the word “poverty” to literally. As we’ll learn in later stanzas of the Eight Realizations, poverty too can lead to negative consequences beyond the scarcity of material goods. If for a time we “don’t have” that shouldn’t lead us into anxiety and worry because we are empowered by the teachings of the Buddha with the knowledge that change is not only possible, it is probable.

Fourth Realization:

The Fourth Realization presents the dangers to our continuing practice of the Dharma and meditation. Two are laziness and procrastination. My root teacher, Shi Yong Xiang says, “It is when no one is watching that we must practice the hardest.” It is a reminder that sometimes we must be our own mentor and monitor.

Like the bodymind is one, so are meditation/practice. Beware of falling into thinking that having a regular meditation practice is all you need to be effectively practicing, there is more to it than that. Meditation is the foundation where we begin to be mindful, where we begin to be aware of our postive and negative dispositions (skandhas), and begin to develop serenity. Meditation is the beginning but in order to have an effective Buddhist practice, one that can make us positive agents of change in the causal Universe it can’t end there. Our practice must be taken out into our everyday lives where it can be useful and productive.

It isn’t called practice because once you think, “I’ve got it,” you can quit practicing.

It isn’t called practice because when you’ve slipped up, didn’t meditate, got angry, ignored an obligation, or craved a cheeseburger you can say, “Alright I’m a terrible Buddhist, I’m gonna quit”.

Writers, actors and painters, anyone in a creative field would sum this stanza up with these words. “Tell your inner editor/critic/procrastinator to be quiet.”

“Tell your inner editor/critic/procrastinator to be quiet.” Those are examples of vexations. Other vexations can be finding the time to meditate and dealing with difficult people at home/work/play. Our inner editor may say “You don’t have time to listen deeply to . . .” – Our inner critic might say, “You really don’t do that well.” – Our inner procrastinator may say, “Tomorrow, we’ll do it tomorrow.” This is where creative re-description comes in. What some would view as vexations, we can turn around and make opportunities to practice. We can take the time to listen, try again, and do today.

The four maras are negative dispositions given legendary form. The mara of the aggregates: grasping/clinging to a permanent self – mara of disturbing emotions: habitual patterns of emotions – mara of death: death/fear – mara of the son of the gods: craving. Any combination of these can impede our pursuit of Buddhist practice. Meditation can lead us to the realization of these “maras” so through meditation we become aware of them before they impede our use of Buddhist practice in everyday life.In short the Fourth Realization is all about commitment to practice. Practice on the cushion and practice off the cushion; Buddhist practice is a holistic endeavor.

Fifth Realization:

Engaged Dharma promotes attitudes and actions directed toward “life-long learning”. Simply put this means be open-minded to any and all new information, new experiences, and new opportunities. Then we put the knowledge gained through the filter of experiential verification and decide if it works. If it does we continue to make it a part of approach to life; if not we discard it.Ignorance is the condition of being unaware, uneducated or uninformed. This can result from cultural conditions that don’t offer to opportunity, or allow one to learn; or, it can be a product of not being interested in learning. Birth of bad decisions, and death of opportunities result from ignorance.

Learn extensively, increase wisdom and refine eloquence are Daoist goals that fits well into Buddhist philosophy. The individual who does these things develops skillful ways to connect with others. For example, not being a sports fan shouldn’t preclude listening to sports podcast (for me it is the Slate podcast, Shut Up and Listen) so that when a friend or acquaintance mentions a sports event your eyes don’t go blank.

Having some knowledge of the history and teachings of other Buddhist traditions, or other faiths will help us develop connections and relationships with others whose goal is human flourishing and the alleviation of suffering. When we have commited to a tradition we learn all we can, we practice diligently and become a positive example to others.

“We make the best decisions with the most information.”

Sixth Realization:

In the Mahayana tradition the bodhisattva exhibits an encompassing compassion that is offered equally to all. The well-being of others is of equal importance as that of their self. This may seem contradictory unless one recalls that the Buddha made it clear that without caring for ourselves we would not be able to extend that care and compassion to others. It is through the practice of “generosity of the spirit” that practitioners develop this skill, the ability to give of ones self in a variety of ways – material goods, wealth, time, skills.Hunger, poverty, and disease can block or slow the realization of the dharma so material generosity is the initial step. The sutra says, “Do give gifts! For poverty is a painful thing. One is unable, when poor, to accomplish one’s own welfare, much less that of others.” (Large Sutra of Perfect Wisdom, Edward Conze translator) Material gifts includes: food, drink, clothing, shelter, land; all of these are needed to sustain life.INTENT is a critical aspect of generosity. The intent/attitude of the giver, the intent/spirit of the gift are essential, and the knowledge that the giving will need to end must be taken into account in any situation. The donor should be prompted by the need while being mindful of the encompassing effect their generosity may have. They should not be influenced by the possible rewards, material or otherwise that may come . . . this is selflessness. Any hope/expectation/self congratulation diminishes the act and demonstrates the immaturity of the giver’s practice.

The Seventh Realization:

The five desires (cravings or attachments being better descriptors) are phenomena that arise from the senses of touch, taste,sight, smell, and hearing. They are wealth, sex, fame, food, sleep. Food and sleep are necessary for human existence, sex is necessary for human continuing existence, and wealth and fame have value when used to help others, to promote human flourishing. With any of these it is the depth of craving that becomes perilous. In the case of wealth, food and sleep it is a matter of having the amount needed without struggling to, or being anxious when there isn’t more to be had. Sex may well fall under that same ideal. Fame can so quickly lead to selfishness if one doesn’t maintain a heightened state of mindfulness.Being mindful of the three robes, the tiled bowl, and the instruments of the Dharma bring realization that possessions beyond our needs can lead to craving. The “three robes” are the traditional layers that Buddhist monastics wear: in the Ch’an tradition these are the gown (hai-ch’ing), the robe (chia-sa), and an outer robe for inclement weather (ch’ang kua). The tiled bowl is the monk’s begging bowl. Instruments of the Dharma are the wooden fish, the ching bowl or bell, the hand ching, and wooden blocks, all used in meditation and chanting. Other possessions, while they might bring us transitory pleasure are not necessary to practice the Dharma. We need clothes befitting the seasons, sustenance to power the bodymind, and the “music” of the Dharma to look to during the situations that life presents us.It is living the noble life that is important. We begin that noble life with our meditation practice. A life of mindfulness and awareness of our interconnection with the causal Universe. A life of seeing things around us as they are, not how we might want them to be; and then reacting to life’s experiences with the best of intentions. It is simply doing our best to walk the Middle Path.

The Eighth Realization:The initial lines of the stanza are daunting at first read, blazing fire and endless plague. In earlier stanzas we’ve talked about a different view of the ideas of birth and death being changes in the self brought on by experiences. Using this view then like a blazing fire causes changes in what it burns, then the continuous birth and death of the self is just as dynamic. There is the good, the not-so-good, and the neutral experiences that we must learn to deal with. We realize that afflictions and suffering will pass, or we can choose to react to them in such a way as to make them more positive experiences. Think of people like Steven Hawkins, astrophysicist and author whose afflictions didn’t stand in the way of his doing what he felt would add to human flourishing.

Serenity is not an ephemeral state of being that only the most practiced, spiritual leaders and gurus can reach. The Buddha taught that anyone willing to invest effort and commitment can develop a serene bodymind. We begin with awareness meditation where we gain the skill to stay attentive, focused and flexible while dealing with intense situations. Off the cushion when we encounter tense situations we have the ability to remain calm, to assess the situation and make the possible choice of responses. Seeing our abiding calm will have the effect of calming others, whether they realize it or not.Taking on “infinite suffering” is a way of reminding us that suffering is real and all around us. We aren’t expected to shoulder the entire responsibility ourselves. We deal with the suffering we encounter, we strive to empower others through our example, and we stay mindful of that our actions and thoughts have consequences in the causal Universe. We want to avoid causing suffering while trying to alleviate it at the same time.